2019 South Oxfordshire District Council election
The 2019 South Oxfordshire District Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect members of South Oxfordshire District Council in Oxfordshire, England. The whole council was up for election. The Conservatives lost control of the council.


2019 South Point 400
The 2019 South Point 400 was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held on September 15, 2019 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas. Contested over 267 laps on the 1.5 mi (2.4 km) asphalt intermediate speedway, it was the 27th race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, first race of the Playoffs, and the first race of the Round of 16.


2019 South Point 400, Report, Background
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada outside the Las Vegas city limits and about 15 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip, is a 1,200-acre (490 ha) complex of multiple tracks for motorsports racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.


2019 South Point 400, Practice, First practice
Clint Bowyer was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 30.327 seconds and a speed of 178.059 mph (286.558 km/h).


2019 South Point 400, Practice, Final practice
Kurt Busch was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 30.461 seconds and a speed of 177.276 mph (285.298 km/h).


2019 South Point 400, Qualifying
Clint Bowyer scored the pole for the race with a time of 30.180 and a speed of 178.926 mph (287.953 km/h).


2019 South Point 400, Race, Kyle Busch/Garrett Smithley incident
Late in the race, Kyle Busch was battling for position with William Byron when #52 Honest Abe Roofing driver Garrett Smithley, who was laps down, couldn't move down to get out of the way of the lead lap cars. Kyle Busch also didn't have enough time to move down, and Busch would hit Smithley in the rear. Busch would have major front end damage, saying "think the nose is knocked in. Fucking destroyed". Busch would go on to finish 19th, and Smithley 35th, 12 laps down.


2019 South Point 400, Race, Kyle Busch/Garrett Smithley incident
Reporter 1: What happened there with the #53, there late? Kyle Busch: #52, get it right. Don´t know. Reporter 1: And how´d that impact your car? Kyle Busch: Killed it. Reporter 1: What did you think... were you happy that you were able to come back after the early damage to your (car)? Kyle Busch: Nope. Reporter 1: What happened there at the beginning of the race? Kyle Busch: I´m just here so I don´t get fined. Reporter 2 : How about the heat? How did it...Kyle Busch: Felt great. Reporter 2


2019 South Point 400, Race, Kyle Busch/Garrett Smithley incident
: You felt fine out there the whole time? Reporter 1: Based on since you´re doing to a place where you won last time, last year, Richmond...Kyle Busch: Nope, can´t pass there. Reporter 1: Do you feel OK about your chances overall at Homestead? Kyle Busch: Don´t care. Reporter 3 : Does it help any at all that you had the bonus points coming in here, coming out of this race? Kyle Busch: Just here so I don´t get fined. Reporter 1: Do you feel like if you were able to get a top 10... (Kyle Busch´s PR manager walks up to Kyle Busch and talks to Busch)Kyle Busch: I´m answering the dumbest fucking questions over and over again. Am I good?


2019 South Point 400, Race, Kyle Busch/Garrett Smithley incident
On Monday, September 16, Smithley would defend his actions on Twitter, tweeting ¨Held my line... 2 cars got around.¨ Fans were split on the issue- some saying Smithley should have gotten out of the way, while others saying Busch should have moved his line earlier. On the same day, Smithley would post an announcement on Twitter, defending his racing career up to that point and saying that he wasn't mad at Busch.


2019 South Point 400, Race, Kyle Busch/Garrett Smithley incident
Busch would criticize the skill of lapped car drivers, saying “We’re at the top echelon of motorsports, and we’ve got guys who have never won Late Model races running on the racetrack. It’s pathetic. They don’t know where to go. What else do you do?¨ On September 20, Smithley would tweet ¨Even when I don’t do anything @KyleBusch blames me. Went outta my way to give him room tonight. Think he might have thought I was in a different car. 🤷🏼♂¨. As of now, nothing more has been said, but the question of skill needed in NASCAR has remained, recently brought up by Quin Houff´s incident with Matt Dibenedetto at the 2020 O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.


2019 South Point 400, Media, Television
NBC Sports called the race on the television side. Rick Allen, Jeff Burton, Steve Letarte and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the call in the booth for the race. Dave Burns, Parker Kligerman, Marty Snider and Kelli Stavast reported from pit lane during the race.


2019 South Point 400, Media, Radio
PRN covered the radio call for the race which was also be simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Doug Rice and Mark Garrow called the race in the booth when the field raced through the tri-oval. Rob Albright called the race from a billboard in turn 2 when the field raced through turns 1 and 2 & Pat Patterson called the race from a billboard outside of turn 3 when the field raced through turns 3 and 4. Brad Gillie, Brett McMillan, Wendy Venturini, and Heather DeBeaux worked pit road for the radio side.


2019 South Ribble Borough Council election
Local elections were held for South Ribble Borough Council on 2 May 2019, the same day as other 2019 United Kingdom local elections.


2019 South Somerset District Council election
The 2019 South Somerset District Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect members of South Somerset District Council in Somerset, England. The whole council was up for election on new boundaries. The Liberal Democrats held the council with an increased majority, up from 1 to 22.


2019 South Staffordshire District Council election
The 2019 South Staffordshire District Council election took place on 2 May 2019 to elect members of the South Staffordshire District Council in England. It was held on the same day as other local elections.


2019 South Sudan Football Championship
The 2019 South Sudan Football Championship (also called the 2019 South Sudan Champions League or 2019 South Sudan Premier League) was the 5th season of the South Sudan Football Championship, the top-level football championship of South Sudan.


2019 South Sudan Football Championship, Group stage
Teams that qualified as local league champions were divided into three groups: Group A in Juba, Group B in Wau, and Group C in Malakal. The group stage kicked off on 20 May 2019.


2019 South Sudan Football Championship, Group stage
The winners of each group advance to the Championship playoff.


2019 South Sudan Football Championship, Championship playoff
Played between 8 and 12 June 2019 at Wau Stadium.


2019 South Sudan National Cup
The 2019 South Sudan National Cup is the 7th edition of the South Sudan National Cup, the knockout football competition of South Sudan. It was played between 4 and 18 March 2019.


2019 South Sudan National Cup, Group stage
A total of 14 teams participate in the competition. They were divided into four groups based in different cities. The winners of each group (in bold) advance to the semi-finals.


2019 South Sudan National Cup, Knockout stage, Semi-finals
The semi-finals were originally to be played on 17 March, and the final to be played on 21 March. The semi-finals were originally to be:


2019 South Sudan National Cup, Knockout stage, Semi-finals
However, as neither Al-Hilal FC Wau nor Super Eagle FC Yambio travelled to Juba, the South Sudan Football Association disqualified both teams, and the remaining two teams, Amarat United FC and Jil Salam FC Malakal, would play in the final.


2019 South Sudan National Cup, Knockout stage, Final
The final was played on 18 March at the Juba Stadium in Juba.


2019 South Sudan National Cup, Knockout stage, Final
The cup winner qualifies for the 2019–20 CAF Confederation Cup.


2019 South Sulawesi floods
On 22 January 2019, floods caused by heavy rainfall struck the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi. At least 68 people were killed and thousands were displaced. Gowa Regency was particularly hard-hit, experiencing the majority of the fatalities.


2019 South Sulawesi floods
The most destructive flood was caused by the overflowing of the Jeneberang River and the opening of the watergates of the Bili-Bili Dam in Gowa, though other floods also occurred elsewhere in the province.


2019 South Sulawesi floods, Background
The province of South Sulawesi experiences flooding annually. Due to development of a low-pressure area in the Timor Sea coupled with increased humidity in the wet season, the rainfall levels in the area increased significantly, with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency issuing an extreme weather warning between 21 and 26 January 2019. One of the dams in the province, the Bili-Bili Dam which lies on the Jeneberang River, has suffered from silting, coupled with the critical condition of the river's catchment area due to agricultural use.


2019 South Sulawesi floods, Flooding
The heavy rainfalls caused the Jeneberang River to overflow, resulting in the overfilling of the Gowa Regency's Bili-Bili Dam and forcing the water gates to be opened. The water level in parts of Makassar reached roof level in excess of 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). Other rivers in the province, such as the Walanae River also overflowed, causing further damage in other locations.


2019 South Sulawesi floods, Flooding
By 25 January, the flooding had not receded fully, with some residents of Makassar still displaced.


2019 South Sulawesi floods, Casualties
68 people were reported killed as of 25 January 2019, in addition to 6 missing. Most of the confirmed deaths were recorded in Gowa Regency, which suffered 45 dead. Some of the deaths were due to electrocution, while others were caused by the landslides.


2019 South Sulawesi floods, Impact
The flooding directly impacted 10 regencies or cities, with 3,321 people being evacuated from 78 villages according to the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB). 5,825 people were recorded to be "impacted" by the flood, and 32 houses were confirmed to be swept away, with 25 further houses heavily damaged, 14 damaged, and 5 buried under landslides. 2,694 houses, 11,433 hectares (28,250 acres) of farmland were inundated, alongside damage to various public facilities. The Indonesian Police reported 7,364 people in evacuation sites in Makassar, Gowa and Jeneponto.


2019 South Sulawesi floods, Impact
An official noted that the flooding was "the worst in a decade". The Trans-Sulawesi Highway was impacted, being cut off for 20 hours. Floodwater damaged pumps in Maros, disrupting the distribution of freshwater. South Sulawesi governor Nurdin Abdullah estimated that the financial damages in Jeneponto Regency alone will be in excess of Rp 100 billion (USD 7 million).


2019 South Sulawesi floods, Response
The Governor of South Sulawesi Nurdin Abdullah declared an emergency response period which was to last until 29 January 2019. Search and Rescue teams from various organizations - BNPB, Indonesian Police, TNI, various ministries and volunteer groups - were deployed to search for and evacuate survivors. A helicopter from the Indonesian Air Force was deployed to deliver aid to an isolated settlement in Gowa.


2019 South Sulawesi floods, Aftermath
South Sulawesi governor Nurdin Abdullah blamed environmental damages due to illegal mining in Gowa Regency for causing the floods.


2019 South Sydney Rabbitohs season
The 2019 South Sydney Rabbitohs season is the 110th in the club's history. Coached by Wayne Bennett and captained by Sam Burgess, they compete in the National Rugby League's 2019 Telstra Premiership.


2019 South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council election
The 2019 South Tyneside Council election took place on 2 May 2019 in concert with other local elections. Its purpose was to elect members of the South Tyneside Council in Tyne and Wear, North East England.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case
A man from South Wales was jailed for 33 years in 2019 for serious sexual offences against three of his daughters, spanning 20 years, one of whom was also his granddaughter. He frequently raped his daughters from the ages of 12, 13, or 14, fathering six of his own grandchildren with one. He also arranged for other men to rape his daughters.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case
The offender cannot be named to protect the lifelong anonymity afforded to his victims.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Crimes
The offender brainwashed, manipulated and systematically raped three of his daughters during a 20 year period.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Crimes, Grooming
He groomed and controlled his daughters by invoking magic. He immersed them in a "false world" involving "witchcraft and mysticism" and convinced them that they were receiving emails from a psychic named Amelia Sanctuary, which were really from him. The messages demanded sex with him and with other men.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Crimes, First daughter
He controlled and sexually abused one of his daughters for about 20 years. He began raping her when she was 14 years old, making her pregnant in a matter of months. She agreed to deceive social services by claiming the baby's father was a boy at her school. Then her father raped her "nearly every night", making her pregnant a second time at 16. She became pregnant nine times in total, giving birth to six children. DNA evidence proved he is the father of all six.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Crimes, First daughter
Two of the pregnancies ended with a miscarriage and one was ended by abortion tablets given to her by her father to conceal it. He was extremely controlling towards her and emotionally manipulated her, saying for example: "We are soul mates, we have been together through so many lifetimes. We are meant to be together." He gave her a "witch's ring" and emailed instructions to her that he pretended were from the psychic Amelia, including to drink his urine. He groomed her into believing all of this was "a normal upbringing".


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Crimes, First daughter
When on bail following his arrest, he continued having sex with her, pitching a tent near a beach for this purpose. After he covered up a resulting pregnancy by giving her abortion tablets, she was too frightened of him to seek medical treatment and later recalled, "I was too chicken to go to the clinic".


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Crimes, Second daughter
He raped a second daughter "hundreds of times" for four years during her teens and also had her raped by a second man. Her first time being "basically forced into sex" by her father was in a forested area. Then he raped her "at least two to three times a week" in various locations including her bed and his car. The second man, a family friend, raped her in his own bedroom in a nearby flat, watched by her father. She believes he paid her father. She eventually escaped the abuse by leaving her home. She was initially too frightened to report the crimes due to fears about "losing contact with her siblings". She later reported the abuse to police because she feared for other "girls in the family of that age".


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Crimes, Granddaughter
He also controlled and systematically raped one of the daughters of his first victim, from when she was aged 12 or 13 until her late teens. DNA evidence proved that he is both her father and grandfather. He intimidated and controlled her by again invoking witchcraft and by tying her up and sexually assaulting her when she rejected his demands, making her "too scared" to refuse him. He concealed the abuse by demanding she keep it a secret and by telling her "Nobody will believe you and you will be thrown in the loony bin." He raped her several times a week in various locations, such as the family home, his car, a caravan and a lay-by. He continued sexually abusing her while on bail following his arrest.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Trial
In late September 2019, the offender went on trial in Swansea Crown Court for 36 rape counts and for an assault by penetration count. One of the rape counts was for procuring rape. He denied all counts. He cannot be named due to the legal necessity of protecting the lifelong anonymity of his victims.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Trial
On 10 October 2019, the jury unanimously convicted him on all 37 counts, after deliberating for four and a half hours. He remained expressionless during the verdict and was remanded in custody.


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Trial
Paul Jones, a Detective Chief Inspector at Dyfed–Powys Police, said the perpetrator committed "the most serious sexual offences" with an impact that "is very difficult to summarise". He thanked the victims for "their bravery and composure", which "led to the conviction of a very dangerous offender". He added: "I want anyone who has suffered abuse to know that if you find the courage to come forward, you will be taken seriously, and police will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”


2019 South Wales paternal sex abuse case, Trial, Sentencing
On 18 October, Judge Paul Thomas QC jailed the offender for 33 years, with a further seven years on extended licence, saying that his "totally evil" crimes "plumbed the depths of depravity". He told the "cowardly" and "wicked" abuser: "You raped them countless times, well into the hundreds. You took advantage of their extreme vulnerability caused by their age and circumstances and abused them cynically, mercilessly, evilly."


2019 South and Central American Beach Handball Championship
The 2019 South and Central American Beach Handball Championship was the first edition of the tournament, took place in Maricá, Brazil from 11 to 14 july 2019. It acted as the South and Central American qualifying tournament for the 2020 Beach Handball World Championships and the 2019 World Beach Games.


2019 South and Central American Men's Club Handball Championship
The 2019 South and Central American Men's Club Handball Championship the 1st edition of this tournament was held in Taubaté, Brazil from 22 to 26 May 2019. It acted as a qualifying tournament for the 2019 IHF Super Globe.


2019 South and Central American Men's Junior Handball Championship
The 2019 South and Central American Men's Junior Handball Championship was the first edition of the tournament, took place in Palmira, Colombia at the Pabellon Blanco, from 3 to 7 April 2019. It acted as the South and Central American qualifying tournament for the 2019 Men's Junior World Handball Championship.


2019 South and Central American Men's Youth Handball Championship
The 2019 South and Central American Men's Youth Handball Championship was the first edition of the tournament, took place in Taubaté, Brazil at the Ginásio EMECAL, from 8 to 12 May 2019. It acted as the South and Central American qualifying tournament for the 2019 Men's Youth World Handball Championship.


2019 South and Central American Women's Club Handball Championship
The 2019 South and Central American Women's Club Handball Championship is the first edition of the South and Central American Women's Club Handball Championship, took place in Concórdia, Brazil from 12 to 16 March 2019. It acts as the South and Central American qualifying tournament for the 2019 IHF Women's Super Globe.


2019 Southampton City Council election
Elections to Southampton City Council took place on Thursday 2 May 2019, alongside other local elections across the country. The Labour Party held a narrow majority of two at the last election and the seats contested in this election were last contested in 2015. Labour were defending 6 seats, the Conservatives were defending 8, whilst independent councillors, who held two seats, were not standing re-elections. Following a by-election in the Coxford ward where Labour gained the seat formerly held by an independent.


2019 Southampton City Council election
The result saw the Labour party gain Coxford, Freemantle, Portswood and Swaythling, but lost Millbrook and Bitterne to the Conservatives, making a net gain of three.


2019 Southampton City Council election, Background
The council elects its councillors in thirds, with a third being up for election every year for three years, with no election each fourth year to correspond with councillors' four-year terms. Councillors defending their seats in this election were previously elected in 2015. In that election, 8 Conservative candidates, 7 Labour candidates were elected and independent People Before Profit councillor was elected in Coxford. After the 2015 local election, the Labour party saw a loss of one of their Councillors, Andrew Pope, who formed the Southampton Independents party. He is not seeking re-election in this election. The last election in 2018 saw the both the council leader Simon Letts and leader of the Conservative bloc in the city be defeated in their wards by each other's party. Letts was replaced with Christopher Hammond as council leader, and Dan Fitzhenry as leader of the Conservatives.


2019 Southampton City Council election, Background
People Before Profit, an independent group with all three of its councillors elected in the Coxford ward, decided to separate after the 2018 election. On 3 January 2019, former group leader of People Before Profit, Keith Morrell, announced that he would resign with immediate effect, triggering a by-election in the year. Hours later, Don Thomas announced he would not seek re-election in the Coxford ward.


2019 Southampton City Council election, Background, 14 March by-election
Due to the independent councillor Keith Morrell resigning as a councillor, a by-election was triggered for the Coxford ward. Morrell was re-elected in the seat for a third term in the 2018 elections, with 47% of the vote. The Conservative Party candidate for the by-election Diana Galton is the mother of Millbrook Councillor Steven Galton, a front bench member for the Conservatives.


2019 Southampton City Council election, Background, Campaigning
Commentators had noted that though Southampton was a Labour controlled area, these local elections were difficult and the council is vulnerable. Labour in the city had started incorporating more wealth building programs into their economic agenda to mitigate austerity in the city, similar to what is known as the "Preston model".


2019 Southampton City Council election, Background, Campaigning
The conservatives caused a controversy as they selected Josh Payne to contest Woolston, who shared the same surname as the incumbent Warwick Payne. Warwick Payne was concerned that people would mix them up on the ballot paper.


2019 Southampton City Council election, Election results
Immediately ahead of this election, the composition of the council was:


2019 Southampton City Council election, Election results
After the election result, the composition of the council became:


2019 Southampton City Council election, Election results
As the council is elected in thirds, one councillor for each of the 16 wards are elected each year. All comparisons in seats and swing are to the corresponding 2015 election.


2019 Southampton City Council election, Results by ward
The statement of persons nominated was revealed 3 April 2019. A (*) by a councillor's name indicates that they were standing for re-election, The declaration of the results were posted on 3 May.


2019 Southeast Asian Games
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games (Tagalog: Ika-Tatlumpung Palaro ng Timog-silangang Asya 2019), officially known as the 30th Southeast Asian Games, or 2019 SEA Games and commonly known as Philippines 2019, was the 30th edition of the Southeast Asian Games, a biennial regional multi-sport event which was held in the Philippines from 30 November to 11 December 2019. However, due to a narrow calendar, some sports started before the opening ceremony as early as 24 November.


2019 Southeast Asian Games
This edition was marked by the first major decentralization in the history of the Games, with competition venues spread in 23 cities across the country and divided into four clusters; all were located on the island of Luzon (Metro Manila, Clark, Subic/Olongapo, and a fourth cluster consisting of standalone venues in Cavite, Laguna, and La Union). This was the country's fourth time to host the games, and its first since 2005. Previously, it had also hosted the 1981 and 1991 editions of the games. This edition was most notable for being the first edition to include esports, obstacle course race, kurash, sambo, underwater hockey, breaking, surfing, modern pentathlon, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and skateboarding; as well as having the highest number of sports in the history of the games, at a total of 56.


2019 Southeast Asian Games
The hosting rights were originally awarded to Brunei in 2012, but the country pulled out days before the 2015 Southeast Asian Games due to "financial and logistical reasons."


2019 Southeast Asian Games
The Philippines was previously slated to host 2023 Southeast Asian Games but, in July 2015, it agreed to host the Games after Brunei's withdrawal (with Cambodia taking its place for 2023). However, the Philippines' hosting was left uncertain following the withdrawal of government support two years later as it planned to use the funds intended for the games for the rehabilitation of Marawi after being occupied by ISIS supporters. Thailand and Indonesia offered to host the games with the latter planning to reuse the venues used for the 2018 Asian Games. However, by August 16, 2017, the Philippine government announced the reversal of the withdrawal.


2019 Southeast Asian Games
The host country, Philippines, emerged in the medal tally as the overall champion for the first time in 14 years, breaking its own medal count record in 2005, followed by Vietnam and Thailand. Several games and national records were broken during the games. Amidst numerous controversies and problems, the games were deemed generally successful with the rising standard of competition amongst the Southeast Asian nations; with its hosting being lauded by the Olympic Council of Asia for its facilities and hospitality. The Philippines is bidding to host the 2030 Asian Games, but was unable to submit the bid by the dateline.


2019 Southeast Asian Games
Quah Zheng Wen of Singapore was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for male athletes, having won six golds and two silvers, while Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên of Vietnam, with the same medal tally, was accorded MVP honors for female athletes. The fairplay award was awarded to Roger Casugay for saving a fellow competitor's life.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection
As per SEA Games traditions, hosting duties are rotated among the SEA Games Federation (SEAGF) member countries. Each country is assigned a host the event in a in a predetermined year, but the country could choose to withdraw or not host that edition.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection
In July 2012, the SEAGF meeting in Myanmar confirmed that Malaysia would host the regional biennial event in 2017, should there be no other country willing to bid for the games. Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary general Sieh Kok Chi, who attended the meeting, said that Myanmar would host the Games in 2013, followed by Singapore in 2015 and Brunei in 2017. However, the sultanate gave up hosting the Games in 2017, in exchange for having more time to organize the 2019 edition.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection
Brunei hosted the Games only once in 1999 and planned to upgrade its sports facilities and build a new national stadium in Salambigar to accommodate the Games. However, on June 4, 2015, Brunei withdrew its hosting rights at the meeting in Singapore after the said country's Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports had failed to give support for the Games due to the lack of sporting facilities, accommodation, and preparation of their athletes.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection, Philippines
With Brunei's withdrawal, the Philippines had expressed its interest to host the Games Vietnam, the 2021 Southeast Asian Games host, was also offered to host this edition, but declined. On July 10, 2015, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) announced that the Philippines will be hosting the Games. Davao City and Manila were touted as the top candidates for the main host city of the Games. Cebu City and Albay also expressed interest in hosting some events.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection, Philippines
On July 21, 2017, The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) addressed the POC that it is withdrawing its support for the Philippine hosting of the 2019 Games, saying that government decided to reallocate funds meant for hosting to the rehabilitation efforts of Marawi, which was left devastated following the Battle of Marawi and it was later reported that the POC's insistence on handling all matters of the hosting; finance, security and the conduct of the Games as it did for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games led to the PSC's withdrawal of support.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection, Philippines
However, in August 2017, the Philippines, through the then-POC president Peping Cojuangco, confirmed that the country will be hosting the 2019 SEA Games, after Cojuangco wrote to President Rodrigo Duterte and appealed for reconsideration.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection, Philippines
Cojuangco has stated that the Games would be held in the Central Luzon area, particularly in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Zambales. He added that the Philippine Arena in the municipality of Bocaue in Bulacan province would "most likely" be used in the Games. In January 2018, during the groundbreaking of the New Clark City Sports Hub (then known as the Philippine Sports City), it was announced that the organizers will attempt to hold all events of the games outside of Manila with New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, Subic, and Bulacan as main host localities.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection, Handover ceremony
During the closing ceremony of the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, the symbolic SEA Games Federation council flag was handed over by outgoing Malaysian Olympic Committee president HRH Tunku Tan Sri Imran to then-Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, who in turn passed the flag to then-Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who will be the Chairman of organizing committee for 2019 games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Host selection, Handover ceremony
In contrast of other closing ceremonies held throughout the SEA Games, only a discrete video promoting tourism in the Philippines was presented instead of a grand presentation for the next host country. One of the reasons given by the Philippine Olympic Committee is the cost of holding a handover ceremony, at ₱8 billion. Another reason is to give focus on the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Malaysian federation.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations
Unlike the 2005 games, the 2019 SEA Games adopted a different organizing structure for the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC). According to Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez, Foreign Secretary (now House Speaker) Alan Peter Cayetano would be appointed as the organizing committee chairman, instead of the Philippine Olympic Committee president who presumed the role in 2005. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was initially the head of the organizing committee before replaced by Cayetano.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations
At least three meetings were held for the preparation of the games. The first meeting was held in Shangri-la Hotel at the Fort on May 16 and 17, 2018. Another meeting was held on November 23 and 24, 2018.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations
Officials of National Sports Associations of the Philippines were designated as competition managers and were tasked to deal with local arrangements concerning their sport including logistics, venues and equipments.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Costs
The budget for the games is at least ₱7.5 billion(US$147 million as of July 31, 2019). ₱6 billion(US$118 million) were provided by the government while the rest were secured by PHISGOC from sponsorship agreements. The government funds were allocated to the Philippine Sports Commission with ₱5 billion(US$98 million) from the funds approved by the Philippine Congress and the remainder derived from augmentation fund approved by President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte approved the additional funds by May 2019.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Ticketing
The organizers entered negotiations with SM Tickets for ticketing systems. All tickets for all events were originally planned to cost a fee, with sports determined to be less popular by the organizers, to have a minimal fee. On October 3, 2019, tickets for the opening ceremony and select events were made on available on all SM Tickets branches and online. However, in a few days leading to the opening ceremony, there were clamors to make the tickets free to the general public.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Ticketing
Public figures and groups, such as the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella and the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to make the tickets free. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo suggested the organizers to give the tickets free or charge tickets at a discounted price for students.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Ticketing
On November 29, 2019, upon instructions of President Duterte, tickets were made available for free for all sporting events, except basketball, football and volleyball, which were sold out. Tickets were also made available for free for the closing ceremony, with organizers giving 10,000 tickets to SM Tickets for distribution and thousands of other tickets to local government units.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Transportation
Organizers coordinated with the Department of Transportation regarding logistics for the games including the possible closure of the North Luzon Expressway to the public for 12 hours before the opening ceremony.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Transportation
Vehicles, including 362 public buses, 162 sedans and 100 VIP cars, were planned to be bought and 268 vans were to be rented for use for the regional games. There were also three self-driving electric vehicles will be provided by American firm Connected Autonomous Shared Transportation (COAST) for transportation of passengers in New Clark City at no cost to the government.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Volunteers
The organizers of the games launched a volunteer program in April 2019 in Taguig to aid the organization of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games with the target of volunteers initially set to 12,000. Around 9,000 individuals were recruited among those 20,686 people who expressed interest to join the volunteering program, 14,683 of which applied through official online portals. 2,960 applicants were foreigners while 6,003 were elected by educational institutions. There were approximately 2,250 volunteers in the Clark cluster, 1,980 in the Subic cluster, 3,150 in Metro Manila, and 1,620 in other venues not part of the first three clusters.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Medals
The official medals for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games were designed by Filipino metal sculptor Daniel dela Cruz, who also designed the SEA Games torch, incorporating elements inspired by the Philippines. On the medal's front, above the SEA Games logo is a sail or "layag" typically used by Filipino boats. Encircling the logo are sea waves signifying the Philippine archipelago. At the back is a rendering of the sports facilities at the New Clark City, site of the SEA Games, which was incorporated using high density etching. Symbols of the various sports are embedded using laser etching.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Medals
The gold medal is made of 24-karat gold plated material and its wave design in front is made of rhodium via bi-plating. The bronze medal was made "rose gold" in color instead of the traditional brown hue. The ribbon used to hold the medal features a double-sided design; one side features the colors associated with the Southeast Asian Games and the other is decorated with traditional Filipino weave patterns. They were accompanied by a wooden carrying box, while medalists also received flower bouquets, Pami and Philippine Airlines aircraft stuffed toys.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Torch
The design of the official torch for the games was designed by Filipino metal sculptor Daniel dela Cruz The torch was inspired from the sampaguita (Jasminum sambac) the Philippines' national flower and the hammered portions of the object represents the rays of the Philippine flag's sun. According to the organizers, the sun symbolizes "unity, sovereignty, social equality, and independence" aside from sharing the same symbolism of the sun of the Philippine flag. The torch weighs about 1.5 kilograms, not too heavy for the torch bearer. The torch was officially unveiled on August 23, 2019, at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay during the 100-day countdown to the games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Torch relay
Preceding the torch run in the Philippines was the ceremonial lighting of the lantern at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on October 3, 2019. During the ceremony, Malaysian authorities handed the torch to the Philippine authorities. During the ceremony, the flame was placed on a special lantern and was brought to Davao City to start the domestic part of the relay across the nation.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Torch relay
The Philippine part of the relay, started in front of SM Lanang in Davao City on October 30, 2019. The second leg of the run, participated by 6,500 runners was held at Cebu South Coastal Road in Cebu City on November 16, 2019. The final leg was held on November 23, 2019, at the Bayanihan Park in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Cauldron
The cauldron is a metal structure that stands at 12.5 metres (41 ft), built outside the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac and it was lit on November 30 by the boxers Manny Pacquiao and Nesthy Petecio during the opening ceremony. The inside is a hollow space filled with gravel, Inside the cauldron, there is an open space, which is filled with gravel, being supported by several metal structures on each side of the structure. According to the PHISGOC, estimated costs for the construction and maintenance of the cauldron are estimated in ₱47 million.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Development and preparations, Cauldron
The cauldron was designed by National Artist for Architecture, Francisco Mañosa, which was his last project prior to his death.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Venues
There were four designated clusters or hubs for the sporting events of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games namely Clark, Subic, Metro Manila, and "Other Areas". Previously the fourth cluster was reportedly known as the BLT (Batangas, La Union, and Tagaytay) Cluster The main hub is Clark in the sports complex at the National Government Administrative Center, New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. The secondary venue will be Subic while the tertiary venue will be Metro Manila and the other nearby areas. The Philippine Sports Commission confirmed that Manila would host boxing, basketball, and volleyball events while Subic would host water sport events.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Venues
The NOC (National Olympic Committee) mansions and villas for accommodating of the delegates from the competing countries were built in New Clark City. Each mansion would have 15 to 17 rooms each.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Venues
The opening ceremony was held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan while the closing ceremony was held at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding
The official launch and countdown ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games was made at the Bayanihan Park at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga on November 30, 2018 which was attended by representatives of the 11 participating countries of the Games. At the ceremony the logo and theme of the Games were officially unveiled. A 15 m (49 ft) structure consisting of 11 rings representing the 11 nations was also lit up as part of the countdown ceremony. The mascot was shortly confirmed as official outside the countdown ceremony rites.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Motto
The official motto of 2019 Southeast Asian Games as well as its theme is "We Win as One."


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Logo
A preview of the logo of the 2019 SEA Games was earlier presented in front of the Olympic Council of Asia on August 20, 2018, in Jakarta, Indonesia during the 2018 Asian Games. The official logo depicts 11 rings from the logo of the Southeast Asian Games Federation forming the shape of the Philippines and colored with the red, blue, dark blue, yellow, and green. It was made official during the launching ceremony in Bayanihan Park on November 30, 2018. Public reception of the logo in the host country was mixed, with critics stating that the logo lacked creativity and design interest.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Mascot
Pami, with their name derived from the "pamilya", the Filipino word for "family", is the official mascot of the games. According to 2019 SEA Games executive director Ramon Suzara, the mascot represents every nation, every athlete, every person coming together that support each other at the games. The mascot with a joyful character has been described to have been made from squishy spherical balls. Just like the logo and theme, it was also previewed during the meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was made official during the countdown ceremony in Bayanihan Park.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Theme songs
Ryan Cayabyab composed the official theme song of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which shares the name of the games' official slogan "We Win As One". Floy Quintos wrote the lyrics for the song, which was officially launched on July 11, 2019. Lea Salonga performed for the official release of theme song. The theme song and music video for "We Win as One" was formally released on September 3, 2019, at the Resorts World Manila. The music video which was shot at the New Clark City Sports Hub was directed by Shem Hampac and was produced by Equinox Manila.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Theme songs
Cayabyab originally made the composition of the song, with the expectation that 11 singers would do the official performance. The song was revised, in order to be more suitable for a solo performance, after Lea Salonga was tapped to do the performance. Cayabyab and Jimmy Antiporda were the ones responsible for the arrangement of the song.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Theme songs
Sarah Geronimo released "Who We Are", a legacy song for the workforce and volunteers of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The song was eventually played in several victory ceremonies with Filipino medalists. The music video was shot on several venues of the games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Theme songs
Arnel Pineda and Filipino band KO Jones also released "Rock the SEA Games", which was also played during several SEA Games competitions, and was performed during the closing ceremonies on December 11, 2019.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Theme songs
In March 2020, "We Win as One" was remixed as "We Heal As One" in response to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the Philippines. Ryan Cayabyab also composed the song with new lyrics by Floy Quintos. The song was performed by various Filipino singers.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Official attire
Clothing for official use were designed for the games various use. The presenters of the games' victory ceremonies would be wearing attire inspired from Filipino traditional clothing namely the Balintawak dress, Barong Tagalog, and Baro't Saya. Color coded polo shirt and jacket were devised: For Southeast Asian Games Federation officials it was blue, for technical officials, green, for volunteers, red, and Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) officials, navy blue. Business uniforms made by fashion designer Rajo Laurel will also be used. Laurel made two sets of uniform for women (black and white sets) and three sets for men (one black set and two white sets).


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Official launch and branding, Official attire
The Barong Tagalog was used as the official uniform for Team Philippines' parade in the 2019 SEA Games Opening Ceremony. The official uniform was designed by Francis Libiran, while the Filipino athletes' official training apparel is sponsored by Asics.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Sponsors
There were three tiers of sponsorship for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, depending on the amount of funds a company contributes to the games; Preferred sponsors contributed ₱500,000, Gold sponsors contributed ₱2,000,000 and Platinum sponsors contributed ₱3,000,000. Philippine Airlines provided the air transport for the delegates of the games. Singapore-based Razer Inc. will be involved in the organization of the Esports events.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Sponsors
Six companies have sealed their partnership agreements with PHISGOC during the sponsorship signing ceremonies on February 13, 2019. Atos, an international company which is also the IT Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is designated as the official games management system provider. France-based GL Events provided the overlays and temporary structures of the 39 sporting venues to be used for the 2019 SEA Games. Grand Sport, a sports apparel company from Thailand, is the official provider of the uniforms for the workforce, volunteers and technical officials.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Sponsors
The official kits of the national athletes of the host country will be provided by ASICS. Mikasa, Marathon, and Molten are the providers of the official game balls and sporting equipment of the games, all brought in by Sonak Corporation. PHISGOC appointed MediaPro Asia as the official exclusive production, media rights, marketing and sponsorship agent of the games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Sponsors
Autonomous vehicle (AV) service from United States-based COAST Autonomous was used to serve athletes and officials between the athletes' village, aquatic center and athletics stadium in New Clark City. This will be the first ever implementation of an AV service in a major sporting event.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Sponsors
SM Lifestyle, Inc., an arm of SM Prime Holdings, was named the regional games' official venue partner with the venue for men's basketball and ice hockey to be held in facilities managed by the SM Group.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Sponsors
Pennsylvania-based NEP Group was the official host broadcaster of the games which sold full and partial broadcasting rights to other broadcasters. Skyworth was named as the official television partner in the games. They covered events prior to the competition proper including the torch relays in the Philippines and Malaysia, as well as the Game Hub and Fan Zones. The platinum-tier sponsorship was helped secured by Singapore firm Mediapro Asia.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Sponsors
Mastercard is the main sponsor of the games' official mobile app which would allow users to view the schedule and results as well purchase tickets and food in the venue.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Marketing, Sponsors
The organizers secured insurance for the games' athletes and officials from Standard Insurance Co. Inc. which covered a period of October 15 – December 15, 2019, with each beneficiary having a coverage of ₱300 thousand. The insurance plan covers death or any accident-related injuries incurred both during the games and in training, and losses due to sabotage and terrorist acts. Standard Insurance has EMA-Global as its medical service provider partner.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Opening ceremony
The Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, the world's largest indoor arena, hosted the opening ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. In the opening ceremony, Manny Pacquiao and Nesthy Petecio lit the cauldron in New Clark City. The lighting of the cauldron was not live and pre-recorded. It was initially planned to have conducted live but in anticipation of Typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy), a contingency had to be made. A separate cauldron was not built near the arena. Carlos Yulo was designated as the torch bearer and light the cauldron.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was inspired from the opening ceremonies of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Originally, the organizers announced plans to conduct a digital lighting of the flame during the event, but later added a backup plan for a "normal, traditional opening ceremony". The American entertainment company FiveCurrents, which produced the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics, the 2007 Pan American Games and 2012 Summer Olympics, was hired to advise the local companies; Video Sonic and Stage Craft.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Opening ceremony
Filipino-American artist apl.de.ap, a member of The Black Eyed Peas, performed at the opening ceremony. Collaborating with Ryan Cayabyab, he performed a remix of his troupe's song rendered in Filipino traditional instruments and orchestral accompaniment. Previously the organizers negotiated with another Filipino-American artist, Bruno Mars, to do the same, but the negotiations did not advance. There were also expectations for performances by Filipino singer Lea Salonga and Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda, but they did not advance either, with Salonga declining due to an agenda conflict with the local production of the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony was held in the athletics stadium in New Clark City. The Black Eyed Peas as a group performed in the closing ceremony. Arnel Pineda and Filipino band KO Jones are also one of the performers.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Participating nations
All 11 members of Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) are expected to take part in the 2019 SEA Games. Below is a list of all the participating NOCs.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Sports
A record of 530 events in 56 sports have been approved to be contested at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games making this edition the largest Southeast Asian Games in terms of the number of sports and events contested. An initial list of 32 sports to be contested at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games was agreed upon following the two-day SEA Games Federation Council Meeting from May 16 to 17, 2018 at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Sports
Badminton was initially excluded by the hosts from the initial list, but was reinstated following the objections of the National Olympic Committees of Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Vovinam was later dropped from the finalized list of sports released by the organizers in mid-December 2018 and polo was included in January 2019.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Sports
The following is a list of sports to be contested at the games including partial figures for the number of events in each sport:


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Sports
The proposal to include additional sports was allowed through suggestions of the different NOCs until June 13, 2018. There was reportedly a provision that a proposed sport must be backed by at least four nations to be instated to the list. Among the sports proposed to be included in the final list are e-sports, netball, obstacle course, sambo, skateboarding, shuttlecock, surfing, water skiing, sports rock climbing, and aero sports Malaysia planned to propose the inclusion of tennis, ice skating and martial arts which featured in the previous edition while Cambodia lobbied for the inclusion of tennis, petanque, and vovinam.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Sports
On September 30, 2018, during a meeting at the SEA Games Council Federation headquarters in Bangkok. The NOCs of Southeast Asia approved 56 sports in total to be contested in the Games; all sports were proposed by the NOC of the host nation except the disciplines of floorball, vovinam, and indoor hockey which were lobbied for by the other NOCs. Arnis, a Filipino martial art, was last featured as a demonstration sport in the 2005 edition. Arnis will be a regular sport in the 2019 games, and its national sport association lobbied for 20 events for the discipline (16 in combat; 4 in anyo (lit. 'form')) The Philippines will introduce 3x3 basketball for the first time in the history of the games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Sports
Upon the approval of the 56 proposed sports, it was reported that no additional sports was to be added. However the Philippine Olympic Committee later announced that it would propose the addition of beach handball and beach netball after consultations with the sports' respective national associations to the final list of sports to be contested in the games to be agreed upon on November. Following a meeting of the Southeast Asian Games Federation Council from November 23 to 24, 2018, the approval of the 56 proposed sports were finalized with 530 events planned to be contested. The number of events was finalized by mid-December 2018.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Calendar
Several events were rescheduled due to inclement weather (without surfing).


2019 Southeast Asian Games, The Games, Medal table
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games has 530 events in 56 sports, resulting in 530 medal sets to be distributed. Other additional number of medal sets that will be distributed, will be announced before the awarding of different sports in the games respectively.


2019 Southeast Asian Games, Concerns and controversies
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games was marred by a series of controversies, including corruption allegations, marketing and logistics problems, and poor treatment of delegates.


2019 Southeast Asian Games Parade of Nations
During the Parade of Nations at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, beginning at 19:00 PST (UTC+8) on 30 November 2019, athletes bearing the flags of their respective nations led their national delegations as they paraded into the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, preceded by their flag and placard bearer. Each flag bearer was chosen either by the nation's National Olympic Committee or by the athletes themselves. The host country, the Philippines, entered as the last team. 11 Filipina titleholders served as muses for each of the 11 participating countries.


2019 Southeast Asian Games Parade of Nations
English was used to organize the Parade of Nations as per Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) protocol.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron is a structure at the New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines and was made for the 30th Southeast Asian Games with National Artist Francisco Mañosa responsible for the design. It was lit for the Opening Ceremony of the regional games which was held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Design
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron including its backdrop and podium was designed by Mañosa & Co. Inc. (MCI) of Filipino architect and National Artist Francisco Mañosa. Mañosa himself was involved in the design process despite him already in poor health and in early stages of dementia when his family firm was approached by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) in January 2019 to design a cauldron for the games. Despite unable to draw by that time, Mañosa was able to give direction regarding the design of the cauldron verbally.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Design
The architect viewed videos of Olympic cauldron on YouTube as part of the design process and concluded that the 2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron "must be Filipino" and directed his firm to look into his original design for the unbuilt Centennial Tower which was inspired from the sulo, a traditional Filipino torch. MCI presented two other designs to the PHISGOC. PHISGOC selected the design which was made by Mañosa himself. MCI did not disclose which among the three proposals were made by Mañosa beforehand.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Design
The cauldron was originally planned to be 32 meters (105 ft) high so that the flame would be visible from inside the Athletics Stadium but the planned height was reduced to 12.5 meters (41 ft). The cauldron was elevated by a podium. A foreign company was responsible for cauldron the flame mechanism.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Construction
MCI supervised the construction of the cauldron ensuring that its design for the structure was followed. Different firms were contracted for the construction of the podium, the fabrication of the tower, and the cauldron itself.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Cost
The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) requested a budget of ₱55.92 million for the cauldron from the Philippine Sports Commission, which handled the ₱6 billion fund provided by the national government for the organization of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The breakdown of the budget for the cauldron is as follows:


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Cost
In the days leading to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the construction of the cauldron was met with criticism due to its cost. Senator Franklin Drilon pejoratively called the cauldron a kaldero (lit. 'cooking cauldron, in Filipino') questioning the cost of the structure saying the money spent for it could have been used to build 50 classrooms.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Cost
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who is also the chairman of the organizing committee of the games, defended the cauldron as "priceless work of art" and pointed out that the cauldron used in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore was more expensive at ₱63 million. President Rodrigo Duterte expressed belief that there was no corruption involved in building the cauldron.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Cost
In September 2021, Cayetano asserts that the cauldron was wholly funded by the private sector adding that corruption allegations regarding the cauldron caused some sponsors of the games to withdrew.


2019 Southeast Asian Games cauldron, Use
The cauldron was lit up for the opening ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue. A live video of the lighting was to be supposed to beamed at the indoor arena during the ceremony but a pre-recorded video of the act by boxers Manny Pacquiao and Nesthy Petecio was shown instead as a contingency against anticipated bad weather expected from the then-incoming onslaught of Typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy). The fire in the cauldron was extinguished after Salvador Medialdea declared the games closed during the closing ceremony of the games which was held at the New Clark City Sports Hub itself.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony
The closing ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games took place on the evening of Wednesday 11 December 2019 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium, in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony
During the closing ceremony, the Philippines formally handed over the hosting duties of the Southeast Asian Games to Hanoi, Vietnam, the host city of the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Venue
The New Clark City Athletics Stadium hosted the closing ceremonies. The Athletics Stadium itself had its design was derived from Mount Pinatubo, with its posts and facade made from lahar or volcanic debris from the volcano. Its ringed roofline was made to resemble a crater and be defined by a series of curving canopies. The main facade or the main entrance was ornated with glassframes. and its pillars are painted orange to represent the local sunset. The pillars, inspired from the framework of the parol, supports the seating structure of the stadium as well as its roofing.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Proceedings
The pre-show consisted of performances from the Aeta Festival Dancers of Porac and the Manila Concert Choir.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Proceedings
The main program began with Journey lead vocalist Arnel Pineda singing the Philippine National Anthem. This was followed by the Parade of Flags and Athletes. The arches and the background music that were used in the Parade of Nations during the opening ceremony were utilized. The music video of "Who We Are", sung by Sarah Geronimo, was shown as a tribute to the workforce and volunteers, who then entered the stadium to join the athletes and officials after the video was shown. After which, Arnel Pineda and the KO Jones band performed several songs. The ceremony also featured a drone show, forming different symbols and sports, such as athletics, aquatics, and gymnastics, as well as the official SEA Games logo and slogan.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Proceedings
Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines and Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chairman Alan Peter Cayetano, Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino, Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Graham M. Coates, and Chief Integrated Marketing Officer of Resorts World Manila Martin Paz, presented awards for the biennial meet. Winning six golds and two silver medals, Quah Zheng Wen of Singapore was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for male athletes, while Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên of Vietnam, who also won six golds and two silvers, was accorded MVP honors for female athletes.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Proceedings
Roger Casugay of the Philippines was recognized as the "Fair Play Athlete" of the 2019 SEA Games, after his heroic act of helping Indonesian surfer Arip Nurhidayat, whose board was thrown up in the air from the force of the waves during the Surfing competitions. With a total of 387 medals, 149 of which are gold medals, the Philippines was accorded the overall championship of the biennial meet.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Proceedings
After formal speeches from Cayetano and Tolentino, Executive Secretary of the Philippines Salvador Medialdea declared the games closed and the extinguishing of the flame then followed.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Proceedings
After which, a video featuring the highlights of the biennial meet was shown, with the official SEA Games theme song "We Win As One", being played.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Proceedings
The Southeast Asian Games Federation flag was handed over from the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chairman Alan Peter Cayetano and Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino to Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Vietnam Olympic Committee President, and Ngô Văn Quý, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee. The National Anthem of Vietnam, Tiến Quân Ca, was played and the flag of Vietnam was raised, symbolizing the hosting responsibilities being passed to Vietnam. A 12-minute presentation showcasing Vietnamese culture was delivered. The presentation showcased what the athletes can expect in the 2021 SEA Games. This was followed by a fireworks display in the stadium.


2019 Southeast Asian Games closing ceremony, Proceedings
The ceremony concluded with the Black Eyed Peas performing 10 songs.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing is a long-running campaign that began during the one-year countdown to the games held in Bayanihan Park in Angeles City, Philippines. on November 30, 2018.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Symbols, Emblem
A preview of the logo of the 2019 SEA Games was earlier presented in front of the Olympic Council of Asia on August 20, 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia during the 2018 Asian Games. The official logo depicts 11 rings from the logo of the Southeast Asian Games Federation forming the shape the Philippines and colored with the red, blue, yellow and green. It was made official during the launching ceremony in Bayanihan Park.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Symbols, Motto
The official motto of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, as well as its theme, is "We Win As One.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Symbols, Mascot
The games' mascot is dubbed as Pami, with their name derived from the "pamilya", the Filipino word for "family". According to 2019 SEA Games executive director Ramon Suzara, the mascot represents every nation, every athlete, every person coming together that support each other at the games. The mascot with a joyful character has been described to have been made from squishy spherical balls. Just like the logo and theme, it was also previewed during the meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was made official during the countdown ceremony in Bayanihan Park.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Theme song
Ryan Cayabyab composed the official theme song of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which shares the name of the games' official slogan "We Win As One". Floy Quintos wrote the lyrics for the song, which was officially launched on July 11, 2019. Lea Salonga performed for the official release of theme song. The theme song and music video for "We Win As One" was formally released on 3 September 2019 at the Resorts World Manila. The music video which was shot at the New Clark City Sports Hub was directed by Shem Hampac and was produced by Equinox Manila.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Theme song
Cayabyab originally made the composition of the song, with the expectation that 11 singers will do the official performance. The song was revised, in order to be more suitable for a solo performance, after Lea Salonga was tapped to do the performance. Cayabyab and Jimmy Antiporda were the ones responsible for the arrangement of the song.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
There are at least three tiers of sponsorship for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, depending on the amount of funds a company contributes to the games; Preferred sponsors contributed ₱500,000, Gold sponsors contributed ₱2,000,000 and Platinum sponsors contributed ₱3,000,000. Philippine Airlines will provide the air transport for the delegates of the games. Singapore-based Razer Inc. will be involved in the organization of the Esports events.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
Currently, there are at least 50 sponsors: ten sponsors for Platinum, seven sponsors for Gold, six sponsors for Preferred partners, five sponsors as prestige partners, one sponsor for insurance partner, one sponsor for commemorative watch, two sponsors for banking partners, one sponsor for convenience store, seven sponsors for media partners, one sponsor for host broadcaster, and nine sponsors for broadcasters; while Bronze is still not yet announced.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
Six companies have sealed their partnership agreements with PHISGOC during the sponsorship signing ceremonies on February 13, 2019. Atos, an international company which is also the IT Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, is designated as the official games management system provider. France-based GL Events will provide the overlays and temporary structures of the 39 sporting venues to be used for the 2019 SEA Games. Grand Sport, a sports apparel company from Thailand, is the official provider of the uniforms for the workforce, volunteers and technical officials.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
The official kits of the national athletes of the host country will be provided by Asics. Mikasa, Marathon, and Molten are the providers of the official game balls and sporting equipment of the games, all brought in by Sonak Corporation. PHISGOC appointed MediaPro Asia as the official exclusive production, media rights, marketing and sponsorship agent of the games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
Autonomous vehicle (AV) service from United States-based COAST Autonomous will be used to serve athletes and officials between the athletes’ village, aquatic center and athletics stadium in New Clark City. This will be the first ever implementation of an AV service in a major sporting event.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
SM Lifestyle, Inc., an arm of SM Prime Holdings, was named the regional games' official venue partner with the venue for men's basketball and ice hockey to be held in facilities managed by the SM Group.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
Skyworth was named as the official television partner in the games. They will also cover events prior to the competition proper including the torch relays in the Philippines and Malaysia, as well as the Game Hub and Fan Zones. The platinum-tier sponsorship was helped secured by Singapore firm Mediapro Asia.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
Mastercard is the main sponsor of the games' official mobile app which would allow users to view the schedule and results as well purchase tickets and food in the venue.


2019 Southeast Asian Games marketing, Sponsorship
The organizers secured insurance for the games' athletes and officials from Standard Insurance Co. Inc. which covered a period of October 15 to December 15, 2019 with each beneficiary having a coverage of ₱300 thousand. The insurance plan covers death or any accident related injuries incurred both during the games and in training, and losses due to sabotage and terrorist acts. Standard Insurance has EMA-Global as its medical service provider partner.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games took place on the evening of Saturday November 30, 2019 at the Philippine Arena, in Bocaue, Bulacan. The event commenced at 19:00 PST (UTC+08:00) and ended at 20:35 local time. Floy Quintos was the creative director of the ceremony. The ceremony featured LED strips and panels, which represent a bamboo forest, and was the first indoor opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Background
The opening ceremony was reportedly inspired by the opening ceremonies of the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The organizers announced plans to conduct a digital lighting of the flame during the event but added that they have a backup plan for a "normal, traditional opening ceremony". FiveCurrents, the live content creators that produced the London 2012 opening and closing ceremonies, were the producers for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremonies together with the local producers; Video Sonic and Stage Craft.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Background
During the rehearsals of the ceremony, the gymnast Carlos Yulo  was responsible for lighting the cauldron, however at the ceremony he was replaced by boxer Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao's presence was the big surprise of this ceremony.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Background
Filipino-American artist Apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas performed for the opening ceremony. Collaborating with Ryan Cayabyab, he performed a remix of his troupe's song rendered in Filipino traditional instruments and orchestral accompaniment. Previously the organizers negotiated with another Filipino-American artist, Bruno Mars, to do the same.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Background
In August 2019, organizers planned to have local artists Lea Salonga and Arnel Pineda perform in the opening ceremony. However, on November 25, Salonga announced that she will not be able to perform due to her prior commitments with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Pineda was also unable to perform.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Preparations
Organizers are coordinating with the Department of Transportation regarding logistics for the games including the possible closure of the North Luzon Expressway to the public for 12 hours leading to the opening ceremony. Aside from the closure of NLEX, the Department of Public Works and Highways said that the interchange overpass bridge that is connected to NLEX will provide a road access to the Philippine Arena leading to the opening ceremony.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Preparations
Around 2,000 police personnel as well as undisclosed number of personnel from Bulacan's Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Presidential Security Group were deployed to secure the area.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Pre-show
A preshow was held at 5:00 pm, two hours prior to the official start of the opening ceremony.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Welcome, national flag and anthem
The opening ceremony begin with the flag of the Philippines fixed on a pole carried into the stadium by Philippine Army personnel. The acapella version of the Philippines national anthem, Lupang Hinirang was sung by Lani Misalucha, who stand beside the personnel.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Countdown
A five-to-zero countdown of the large screens counted down from 5 to 0 after the singing of the national anthem.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, The Roots of Our Strength (Ugat ng Ating Lakas)
The first production part was entitled "The Roots of Our Strength" (Ugat ng Ating Lakas), featured a dance production by Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group and dance troupes from different colleges and universities, starting with Sarimanok dances and traditional dances including the Ginum of the Bagobo from the Mindanao highlands, the Pattong of the Kalinga people of Northern Luzon, a dance inspired by the pre-Hispanic self-defense art of Arnis, the Sagayan from Maguindanao, and the Singkil of the Maranao people from Lanao. The soundtrack is based from the musical "Misa", composed by local musician Ryan Cayabyab.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, The Honor of Competition (Dangal)
The second part of the show, entitled "The Honor of Competition" (Dangal), featured the La Jota Manileña dance, a blend of both Hispanic and pre-Hispanic style. Then, the parade of athletes started. As per tradition, the participating nations entered in alphabetical order, and finally by the host nation Philippines entering to Hotdog's hit song "Manila". The parade is inspired by the Flores de Mayo festival and 11 historical Filipina beauty titleholders served as muses for each of the 11 participating countries while two men are carrying a singkaban, a decorated bamboo arch usually used in Bulacan. The arches are used as a  creative way to present the name of the participating Southeast Asian countries. Robert Seña performed a welcoming song to the tune of "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika."


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, Speeches and Protocol
Alan Peter Cayetano, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines and Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) chairman, delivered the first speech in the ceremony. He spoke about the ceremony, as a gathering of the Southeast Asian community that seeks to build a better world. He emphasized that the values of passion, sacrifice, discipline, teamwork, and respect, that is shown by the athletes, are everything that is needed for a better world. He continued to speak about the rich diversity of Southeast Asia. He ended his speech, saying "that through love - we pray as one, we build as one, we work as one, and We Win As One."


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, Speeches and Protocol
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from the 8th District of Cavite and Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino was the next one to speak. He began by welcoming all delegates from the 11 participating countries, members of the international media and other guests. He spoke about how preparations for the SEA Games have been challenging, and that all the hard work put into the preparations was paid off. He also spoke about the opening ceremony as a "defining moment" for the country, showcasing what it has to offer.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, Speeches and Protocol
He emphasized that the 14-year wait for the Philippines to host the SEA Games is over, and that how the power of sports to unify the region, despite the diversity in culture, race, and religion. After he ended his speech, he invited President Rodrigo Duterte to formally open the 30th Southeast Asian Games.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, Speeches and Protocol
I declare open the Southeast Asian Games for the 30th time. Celebrating the games of Southeast Asia. Mabuhay kayong lahat.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, Speeches and Protocol
After which, the flag of the Southeast Asian Games Federation was carried by eight Filipino sporting legends:


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, Speeches and Protocol
The flag was raised by members of the Philippine Army Band.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, Speeches and Protocol
This was followed by the oath-taking led by Francesca Altomonte (softball) for the athletes and Daren Vitug (esports) for the officials.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, The Energy of the People (Sigla)
The third production suite called "The Energy of the People" (Sigla), featured Christian Bautista and Aicelle Santos singing a rendition of "Minamahal Kita", with a bahay kubo being carried into the middle, representing Bayanihan. The song rendition represents the courtship tradition of "Harana" (serenade). After which, hip-hop dancers explode from the bahay kubo, with Iñigo Pascual, Elmo Magalona, and KZ Tandingan  singing "Mga Kababayan", "Man From Manila", and "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy", as a tribute to the late Francis Magalona. Black Eyed Peas' apl.de.ap then performed the song Bebot. At this segment, the LED backdrop featured the indigenous Indic script Baybayin, street art which depicts street games played by Filipino children, the Pis Syabit textile of the Tausug people, and the modern tattoo patterns inspired by Kalinga Warrior Status.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, We Win As One (Pagkakaisa)
The final segment of the ceremony entitled "We Win As One" (Pagkakaisa) began with a dance that featured capiz lanterns, held by dancers, creating various formations. After which, all of the performers and dancers came to the stage to sing the official theme song, "We Win As One". The opening ceremony ending with in between the last final closing the end song, a video was shown featuring Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and 2019 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships winner Nesthy Petecio, lighting the cauldron at the New Clark City Sports Complex.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Proceedings, Main event, We Win As One (Pagkakaisa)
Innumerable dazzling fireworks were launched from the top of the "bowl rim". Then, numerous festival fireworks formed a huge circle of extravaganza, fireworks were fired in a one-off event from all New Clark City, launching from the top of the building outwards above the many spectators and well wishers below, Fireworks were launched in the shape and colour in a display that all minutes compared to being reduced to full minutes, symbolizing the successful. The closing ceremony ended at 20:35 PHT.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Performers
The following artists and musicians  performed during the opening ceremony: All of the performers sang "We Win As One", the official theme song of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games during the final part of the opening ceremony.


2019 Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony, Reception
According to Kantar Media, the opening ceremony drew a large television audience. With a national TV rating of 29.2%, the ceremony was the most-watched program of the day.


2019 Southeast Asian haze
A trans-national air pollution crisis affected several countries in Southeast Asia from February to September 2019, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.


2019 Southeast Asian haze
Thailand began to experience a haze in February that lasted until May, peaking in March and April. Indonesia began to experience haze between June and July. Malaysia was affected from August, while Singapore, Brunei, and Vietnam experienced haze in September.


2019 Southeast Asian haze
It was the latest occurrence of the Southeast Asian haze, a long-term issue that occurs in varying intensity during every dry season in the region. It was mainly caused by forest fires resulting from illegal slash-and-burn clearing performed on behalf of the palm oil industry in Indonesia, principally on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, which then spread quickly in the dry season.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Background and causes, Northern ASEAN nations
Most of the hotspots for the northern countries of South East Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the Philippines) occurred from January to May 2019, particularly in March and April 2019.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Background and causes, Northern ASEAN nations
There have been fires in forested lands in northern Thailand with farmlands in Pa Phru Kuan Kreng of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province in southern Thailand.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Background and causes, Southern ASEAN nations
Forest fires in Indonesia cause the trans-boundary haze in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore almost every year. These fires clear land for palm oil plantations, and are known to be started by smallholding subcontractors who supply large companies that claim to discourage the practice but admit the chain of custody is a "complicated web." This web is further complicated by the fact that financing of oil palm industries come from numerous banks. Most of these banks are from Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, that have funded billions of dollars towards deforestation for oil palm and pulp and paper industries.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Background and causes, Southern ASEAN nations
In 2019, fires have been burning in multiple provinces of Sumatra and Kalimantan within Indonesia. These regions possess large areas of peatland, which is highly combustible during the dry season. Peatlands in these areas are extremely vulnerable to combustion because they are originally wetlands and rarely ever burn. However, these peatlands are drained and dried for agriculture use, making them extremely susceptible to burning. Peat, which is made up of layers of dead vegetation and other organic matter, contributes heavily to carbon emissions when it is burnt, because of its high density and carbon content.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Background and causes, Southern ASEAN nations
According to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre, most of the hotspots for Indonesia and Malaysia occurred in August and September 2019. As of September 2019, Indonesia has had a total of over 20,000 hotspots in 2019, while Malaysia has had over 2,000 hotspots. On 12 September 2019 alone, there were 1,188 hot spots in Kalimantan provinces and 431 hot spots in Sumatra provinces.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Background and causes, Southern ASEAN nations
In June 2019, forest fires in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo resulted in the Malaysian city of Miri being affected by haze.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Brunei
On 7 September 2019, Brunei experienced haze, which its government attributed to hot spots across the Indonesian border in the Kalimantan provinces of Borneo.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Indonesia
Following the previous critical 2015 Southeast Asian haze that traced its origin in Indonesia, forest fires in the country returned in July with 42,740 hectares (105,600 acres) of land burned across the country that caused trans-boundary haze towards Malaysia and Singapore. The government sent 9000 military, police and disaster agency personnel to fight the fires.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Indonesia
In 2019, there were thousands of fires started in Indonesia, most of them set to clear land for plantations that make palm oil. Fires created smoke that disrupted air travel and sickened people. Indonesia environment minister said smog was also from fires ignited from hotspots in Malaysia and Vietnam. Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency said more than 3,600 fires had been detected on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo by weather satellites. Malaysia sent a diplomatic note urging Indonesia to take immediate action to address the fires.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Indonesia
Malaysia shut more than 400 schools and sent half a million face masks to the area to combat poor air quality. Rainy weather arrived from 24 September 2019 in six provinces, namely Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan, bringing much needed relief from the choking haze past few weeks.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Indonesia
As of September, there were 885,026 cases of severe respiratory infections due to the haze; 291,807 came from South Sumatra, 268,591 from Riau, and 163,662 from West Kalimantan.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Malaysia
Early in February, forest and peatlands in Pahang caught fire. In early August, Klang was shrouded in dense haze caused by fires in Riau, which was exacerbated by a fire at a nearby forest reserve. Major cities and towns in the state of Sarawak, such as Kuching, were also affected by haze from hot spots in Kalimantan. Malaysia also activated its National Action Plan for Open Burning and its existing National Haze Action Plan on 14 August, as air quality in Kuala Baram and Miri reached hazardous levels.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Malaysia
In Rompin, Pahang, the Air Pollution Index (API) recorded on the 18th of August was 223, which is categorized as being "very unhealthy". Several other Malaysian states and federal territories such as Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Putrajaya and Selangor were also affected by haze from Sumatra in Indonesia while the state of Sarawak had been affected by fires in the state since July and from neighbouring Kalimantan, Indonesia since August. 2.4 hectares of forest also burned in Johor in August. Spotify Malaysia created a playlist called Hazed and Confused that included songs about fire and burning.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Philippines
On 17 September 2019, based on the initial report of regional offices of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), it was confirmed by the agency and the authorities of General Santos City that prolonged hazy skies were experienced in Mindanao and the Visayas, particularly Cebu City. Hazy conditions have also been experienced in Koronadal, Tupi, and Davao City.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Singapore
On 26 August 2019, there was slight haze in Singapore, with conditions gradually improving over the day. This was possibly due to fires in Sumatra, Indonesia, or Johor, Malaysia.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Singapore
On 9 September 2019, there was again slight haze in Singapore, possibly due to an increase in hot spots in Sumatra, Indonesia. These slightly hazy conditions persisted. At 4pm on 14 September 2019, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) entered the "unhealthy" range of above 100 for the first time since 2016, starting from 103 in western Singapore. The PSI steadily climbed up with all parts of Singapore registering "unhealthy" PSI readings at 1am the next day, peaking at 124 from 5am to 8am in western Singapore. Despite this, the air quality improved over the next two days, resulting in the PSI dropping back to "moderate" levels.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Singapore
However, on 18 September 2019, the haze returned to Singapore, resulting in the PSI increasing to "unhealthy" levels. This caused Firefly to cancel all flights from Seletar Airport for the next two days. The next day, the PSI peaked at 154 around 4am in southern Singapore before improving progressively, with all parts of Singapore registering a "moderate" level by 9pm.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Singapore
On 21 September 2019, the PSI hit unhealthy levels once again, with fears that the haze could affect a Formula 1 race. The PSI stayed in the unhealthy range for most of the next day, with rain forecasted to bring relief should it happen. Rain came on 23 September 2019, with subsequent showers that brought relief from the haze. This resulted in the National Environment Agency (NEA) forecasting healthy PSI readings since the haze first hit Singapore two weeks ago.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Thailand
Early in March, an area in northern Thailand was engulfed by haze from forest fires in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces as well as from the border with Myanmar. Million hectares of forested lands in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Phrae and Tak provinces were destroyed.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Thailand
Furthermore, in July, around 2,318.88 hectares (5,730.1 acres) of forest and farmlands in Pa Phru Kuan Kreng of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and surrounding areas in southern Thailand have been destroyed by fires. In September, haze from Indonesia plantation fires reached the southern area of Thailand especially in Phuket City. The Air Quality Index in Phuket reached about 158 as of 9am on 23 September 2019.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Affected countries, Vietnam
After the 2019 Vietnam forest fires affected central Vietnam in mid-June and dissipated in August, the southern area of Vietnam especially Ho Chi Minh City began to be covered with heavy smog in September. Through monitoring and air pollution test results show that forest fires in Indonesia combined with the city large emissions become the main cause of heavy air pollution in the southern region of Vietnam.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement
In August, all of the involved countries reached an agreement to prevent land and forest fires that are causing transboundary haze pollution with the hope to achieve a haze-free Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by the year 2020.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Brunei
The Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation of Brunei (JASTRe) set to introduce a law that will tackle "rampant open burning" in the country to mitigate bush and forest fires.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Indonesia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has instructed the country's National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB), National Armed Forces (TNI), and the National Police (POLRI) to deal with the fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The President also threatens to sack firefighters if the forest fires are not tackled immediately.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Malaysia
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has dispatched two flights using the Bombardier CL415 aircraft carrying 198,000 litres of water to fight forest fire in Miri.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Malaysia
On 19 August 2019, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, announced that principals would be given discretion on closing their schools if API reading became 'unhealthy'. On September 10, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) sent 500,000 face masks to Sarawak amid worsening trans-boundary haze in the state. The state of Johor's Education Department closed down all schools and kindergartens in Pontian, Muar and Tangkak on September 15 because of the haze, affecting over 64,000 students.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Malaysia
Putrajaya and Selangor also announce the closure of 25 and 138 schools respectively for the 17th of September as the haze situation worsened in those areas. In addition, school in Sarawak and Negeri Sembilan were asked to close too, bringing the total of schools shut to 636. During 19–21 September, all schools in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, and Penang, totaling at 1,658 schools, were closed. Alongside that, 119 schools in Kedah, 147 in Perak, and 59 in Negeri Sembilan followed the closing on September 19. The number of schools closed kept increasing steadily, with the total number of schools closed peaking at 2,459, affecting about 1,732,842 students as of 11pm on 18 September 2019.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Malaysia
The Malaysian Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry said they wanted concerted efforts taken in accordance with the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution ratified by member countries. Malaysian Health Ministry has cautioned members of the public to cut down on outdoor physical activities and urged them to wear face masks, umbrellas and caps when outdoors as well advising people to drink plenty of water and to seek immediate treatment if they were not well. The Menteri Besar of Selangor has announced that the state will confiscate land in the state where farmers persist with open burning as well.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Malaysia
On 18 September 2019, the Ministry of Education announced new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for school closures. The new guidelines state that school closures must be announced by 6pm daily should the API rises above 200. In addition, all outdoor activities must be stopped if the API exceeds 100.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Singapore
The National Environment Agency of Singapore also started issuing daily advisories on the haze. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education said that air purifiers are ready should the haze worsen, with closure of schools when the Pollutant Standards Index reaches 300 and above. Similarly, several agencies like Sport Singapore and MINDEF have announced plans to deal with the haze.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Singapore
In addition, Singapore has a stockpile of 16 million N95 masks should the haze continue to deteriorate further. The Ministry of Education said that students could take their PSLE and national examinations indoors, with air purifiers to be turned on if required.


2019 Southeast Asian haze, Response from authorities and joint agreement, Thailand
Thailand's Nakhon Si Thammarat Province Governor Chamroen Tippayaponthada has offered a ฿5,000 reward for evidence leading to the arrest of anyone suspected of starting the forest fires in the province. As a result of the haze from Indonesia reaching southern Thailand in September, Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has issued a health advisory along with the distribution of free health masks to people.


2019 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team
The 2019 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team represented Southeast Missouri State University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Tom Matukewicz and played their home games at Houck Stadium. They were a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.


2019 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team, Previous season
The Redhawks finished the 2018 season 9–4, 6–2 in OVC play to finish in second place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, where they defeated Stony Brook in the first round before losing in the second round to Weber State.


2019 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team, Preseason, Preseason coaches' poll
The OVC released their preseason coaches' poll on July 22, 2019. The Redhawks were picked to finish in second place.


2019 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team, Preseason, Preseason All-OVC team
The Redhawks had six players at five positions selected to the preseason all-OVC team.


2019 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team, FCS Playoffs
The Redhawks were selected for the postseason tournament, with a first-round pairing against Illinois State.


2019 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament
The 2019 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament was held from May 21 through May 26 at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama. The annual tournament determined the tournament champion of the Division I Southeastern Conference in college baseball. The tournament champion earned the conference's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament


2019 Southeastern Conference Baseball Tournament
The tournament has been held every year since 1977, with LSU claiming twelve championships, the most of any school. Original members Georgia and Kentucky along with 1993 addition Arkansas have never won the tournament. This is the twentieth consecutive year and twenty-second overall that the event has been held at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, known from 2007 through 2012 as Regions Park. Texas A&M joined in 2013, and won its first title in 2016. Missouri, which also joined in 2013, has yet to win the event.